LinguaOne word does three jobs: すみません
すみません apologises, excuses and thanks, all with the same six beats. It is what you say when you step on a foot, when you need a shop assistant to look up, and – this surprises everyone – when somebody has gone to trouble for you: thanking with すみません admits the trouble caused, which is warmer in Japanese than ありがとう alone. Learn it as the most useful word in the language after はい.
| Phrase | Use | Level |
|---|---|---|
| すみません | sorry, excuse me, and thank you | neutral, always safe |
| ごめんなさい | a personal apology | close friends and family |
| ありがとうございます | thanks for something done | polite, use with anyone |
| どうも | a quick thanks or apology | casual, never to a customer |
Refusing without saying no
A flat いいえ is rare in a refusal. けっこうです declines an offer politely – no more tea, no bag needed – and ちょっと declines an invitation by leaving the sentence unfinished: あしたはちょっと says no without ever saying it. The listener understands and does not ask again, which is exactly what the form is for.
すみません、みずをくださいExcuse me, water please.
いいえ、どういたしましてNot at all, you are welcome.
Words in this lesson
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ありがとうございます | thank you | ほんとうにありがとうございます Thank you very much indeed. |
| すみません | excuse me | すみません、みずをください Excuse me, water please. |
| ごめんなさい | I am sorry | ごめんなさい、まちがえました I am sorry, I made a mistake. |
| どういたしまして | you are welcome | いいえ、どういたしまして Not at all, you are welcome. |
| どうぞ | please, go ahead | どうぞ、おさきに Please, after you. |
| おねがいします | please (a request) | タクシーをおねがいします A taxi, please. |
| けっこうです | no thank you | いいえ、けっこうです No thank you, I have had enough. |
| ちょっと | a little; not quite | あしたはちょっと Tomorrow is a little difficult. |
| だいじょうぶ | all right, fine | わたしはだいじょうぶです I am all right. |
| もういちど | once more | もういちどおねがいします Once more, please. |
Exercises
This lesson has 10 exercises in the app:
- multiple choice: 3
- match the pairs: 1
- fill the gap: 2
- build the sentence: 2
- translate the sentence: 1
- listen and type: 1
Try the first one
You are in a shop and want the assistant to look up. What do you say?
The answer, the other exercises, the audio and your progress are in the app – free at A0 and A1.